《快乐王子童话集(英文版)》第14章

joyful　occasion；　and　when　I　soar　up　into　the　air　I　intend　to　tell　the　stars　all　
about　it。　You　will　see　them　twinkle　when　I　talk　to　them　about　the　pretty　
bride。〃　
〃Ah！　what　a　trivial　view　of　life！〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃but　it　is　only　what　I　
expected。　There　is　nothing　in　you；　you　are　hollow　and　empty。　Why；　
perhaps　the　Prince　and　Princess　may　go　to　live　in　a　country　where　there　is　
a　deep　river；　and　perhaps　they　may　have　one　only　son；　a　little　fair…haired　
boy　with　violet　eyes　like　the　Prince　himself；　and　perhaps　some　day　he　may　
go　out　to　walk　with　his　nurse；　and　perhaps　the　nurse　may　go　to　sleep　under　
a　great　elder…tree；　and　perhaps　the　little　boy　may　fall　into　the　deep　river　
and　be　drowned。　What　a　terrible　misfortune！　Poor　people；　to　lose　their　
only　son！　It　is　really　too　dreadful！　I　shall　never　get　over　it。〃　
〃But　they　have　not　lost　their　only　son；〃　said　the　Roman　Candle；　〃no　
misfortune　has　happened　to　them　at　all。〃　
〃I　never　said　that　they　had；〃　replied　the　Rocket；　〃I　said　that　they　might。　
If　they　had　lost　their　only　son　there　would　be　no　use　in　saying　anything　
more　about　the　matter。　I　hate　people　who　cry　over　spilt　milk。　But　when　
I　think　that　they　might　lose　their　only　son；　I　certainly　am　very　much　
affected。〃　
〃You　certainly　are！〃　cried　the　Bengal　Light。　〃In　fact；　you　are　the　
most　affected　person　I　ever　met。〃　
〃You　are　the　rudest　person　I　ever　met；〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃and　you　
cannot　understand　my　friendship　for　the　Prince。〃　
〃Why；　you　don"t　even　know　him；〃　growled　the　Roman　Candle。　
〃I　never　said　I　knew　him；〃　answered　the　Rocket。　〃I　dare　say　that　if　I　
knew　him　I　should　not　be　his　friend　at　all。　It　is　a　very　dangerous　thing　to　
know　one"s　friends。〃　〃You　had　really　better　keep　yourself　dry；〃　said　the　
Fire…balloon。　〃That　is　the　important　thing。〃　
〃Very　important　for　you；　I　have　no　doubt；〃　answered　the　Rocket；　〃but　I　
shall　weep　if　I　choose〃；　and　he　actually　burst　into　real　tears；　which　flowed　
down　his　stick　like　rain…drops；　and　nearly　drowned　two　little　beetles；　who　
were　just　thinking　of　setting　up　house　together；　and　were　looking　for　a　
41　
The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales　
nice　dry　spot　to　live　in。　
〃He　must　have　a　truly　romantic　nature；〃　said　the　Catherine　Wheel；　〃for　
he　weeps　when　there　is　nothing　at　all　to　weep　about〃；　and　she　heaved　a　
deep　sigh；　and　thought　about　the　deal　box。　
But　the　Roman　Candle　and　the　Bengal　Light　were　quite　indignant；　and　
kept　saying；　〃Humbug！　humbug！〃　at　the　top　of　their　voices。　They　were　
extremely　practical；　and　whenever　they　objected　to　anything　they　called　it　
humbug。　
Then　the　moon　rose　like　a　wonderful　silver　shield；　and　the　stars　began　
to　shine；　and　a　sound　of　music　came　from　the　palace。　
The　Prince　and　Princess　were　leading　the　dance。　They　danced　so　
beautifully　that　the　tall　white　lilies　peeped　in　at　the　window　and　watched　
them；　and　the　great　red　poppies　nodded　their　heads　and　beat　time。　
Then　ten　o"clock　struck；　and　then　eleven；　and　then　twelve；　and　at　the　
last　stroke　of　midnight　every　one　came　out　on　the　terrace；　and　the　King　
sent　for　the　Royal　Pyrotechnist。　
〃Let　the　fireworks　begin；〃　said　the　King；　and　the　Royal　Pyrotechnist　
made　a　low　bow；　and　marched　down　to　the　end　of　the　garden。　He　had　six　
attendants　with　him；　each　of　whom　carried　a　lighted　torch　at　the　end　of　a　
long　pole。　
It　was　certainly　a　magnificent　display。　
Whizz！　Whizz！　went　the　Catherine　Wheel；　as　she　spun　round　and　
round。　Boom！　Boom！　went　the　Roman　Candle。　Then　the　Squibs　
danced　all　over　the　place；　and　the　Bengal　Lights　made　everything　look　
scarlet。　〃Good…bye；〃　cried　the　Fire…balloon；　as　he　soared　away；　dropping　
tiny　blue　sparks。　Bang！　Bang！　answered　the　Crackers；　who　were　
enjoying　themselves　immensely。　Every　one　was　a　great　success　except　
the　Remarkable　Rocket。　He　was　so　damp　with　crying　that　he　could　not　
go　off　at　all。　The　best　thing　in　him　was　the　gunpowder；　and　that　was　so　
wet　with　tears　that　it　was　of　no　use。　All　his　poor　relations；　to　whom　he　
would　never　speak；　except　with　a　sneer；　shot　up　into　the　sky　like　
wonderful　golden　flowers　with　blossoms　of　fire。　Huzza！　Huzza！　cried　
42　
The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales　
the　Court；　and　the　little　Princess　laughed　with　pleasure。　
〃I　suppose　they　are　reserving　me　for　some　grand　occasion；〃　said　the　
Rocket；　〃no　doubt　that　is　what　it　means；〃　and　he　looked　more　supercilious　
than　ever。　
The　next　day　the　workmen　came　to　put　everything　tidy。　〃This　is　
evidently　a　deputation；〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃I　will　receive　them　with　
being　dignity〃　so　he　put　his　nose　in　the　air；　and　began　to　frown　
severely　as　if　he　were　thinking　about　some　very　important　subject。　But　
they　took　no　notice　of　him　at　all　till　they　were　just　going　away。　Then　one　
of　them　caught　sight　of　him。　〃Hallo！〃　he　cried；　〃what　a　bad　rocket！〃　and　
he　threw　him　over　the　wall　into　the　ditch。　
〃BAD　Rocket？　BAD　Rocket？〃　he　said；　as　he　whirled　through　the　air；　
〃impossible！　GRAND　Rocket；　that　is　what　the　man　said。　BAD　and　
GRAND　sound　very　much　the　same；　indeed　they　often　are　the　same〃；　and　
he　fell　into　the　mud。　
〃It　is　not　fortable　here；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　no　doubt　it　is　some　
fashionable　watering…place；　and　they　have　sent　me　away　to　recruit　my　
health。　My　nerves　are　certainly　very　much　shattered；　and　I　require　rest。〃　
Then　a　little　Frog；　with　bright　jewelled　eyes；　and　a　green　mottled　coat；　
swam　up　to　him。　
〃A　new　arrival；　I　see！〃　said　the　Frog。　〃Well；　after　all　there　is　nothing　
like　mud。　Give　me　rainy　weather　and　a　ditch；　and　I　am　quite　happy。　Do　
you　think　it　will　be　a　wet　afternoon？　I　am　sure　I　hope　so；　but　the　sky　is　
quite　blue　and　cloudless。　What　a　pity！〃　
〃Ahem！　ahem！〃　said　the　Rocket；　and　he　began　to　cough。　
〃What　a　delightful　voice　you　have！〃　cried　the　Frog。　〃Really　it　is　
quite　like　a　croak；　and　croaking　is　of　course　the　most　musical　sound　in　the　
world。　You　will　hear　our　glee…club　this　evening。　We　sit　in　the　old　duck　
pond　clos